BASIC SKI WAXING

BASIC SKI WAXING INSTRUCTIONS:

By Darcy Trevelyan, Race Tiger Coach

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
 

• WAXING IRON **proper ski waxing irons are available at ski shops, but any clothes iron with a temperature control dial will do (except your mom’s)
• WAX **available at any ski shop or see me for direct sales of “SLIDE” a locally made, good value wax
• PLASTIC SCRAPER (**$5-$8 at any ski shop).
• BRAKE HOLDERS: **rubber bands or cut an old bike inner tube into 2cm rings
• WORKBENCH: **vise-grips are helpful but not necessary, any old table can work or even the basement floor will do in a pinch….just remember, wax can get messy!
   

OPTIONAL EQUIPTMENT:

• BRUSH FOR FINISHING THE SKI: **ski shops sell horse-hair, wire, and nylon ski brushes, but a clean potato brush or dish-scouring pad will work (not the SOS kind with soap though)
• SCRAPER SHARPENER.

WAXING INSTRUCTIONS:

1.   Bring your skis inside to warm up to room temperature, use a towel to wipe off any dirt or grease. If you find damage on the bases or edges, or the edges are getting dull or rusty,  take them to a ski shop or an adult for repair and sharpening.

2.   Turn your iron on to a low (polyester/delicate) setting to let it warm up just enough to melt the wax without burning it.  The wax fumes aren’t very good for your lungs, so open a window or turn on a fan if you can.

3.   Use the brake holders to secure the brakes in the up position (like when your boot is locked into the bindings) This will keep them clear of the iron and wax scraper

4.   Place the wax against the warm iron surface to drip  a bit onto the ski base.

5.   Slide the iron slowly back and forth on the ski base until it is evenly covered with wax. As you move it along, there should be a few centimeters of wet, shiny wax right across the base. You can take some time to go tip-to-tail a few
times. This lets the ski heat up so the wax goes deep into the base. If smoke starts coming off the iron, it’s burning!
......turn down the iron. ALWAYS keep the iron moving! If you leave it in one spot too long the bases will burn into a bubby disaster, your parents will be very disappointed with you and make you do lots of extra chores!!

6.   Let the skis cool off for 10-20 minutes or even longer like overnight if you want, then you can scrape off the wax (don’t worry the wax you need will stay in the bases). Hold the scraper with two hands on an angle, start at the tip and scrape toward the tail in long strokes. Keep scraping until the base is smooth and all the lumps are gone. If you don’t have vise-grips to hold the skis, you may need someone to help hold the skis while you scrape.





7.   Brush the bases now, tip-to-tail to give them a grainy texture.

8.   Sweep the floor

9.   Close the window.

THAT’S IT! YOU ARE FINISHED…..now put on your helmet and ski as fast as possible!

Once you are really good at these steps and ready to move onto advanced techniques for warp-speed, base repair and edge sharpening, see the FIS coaches or club parents who rock the Over-The-Hill-Downhill each February.

…wait for ya at the bottom of the chair!!    -Darcy    darski01@yahoo.ca

 

****Care To Watch a Demonstration?

Professional Guy Waxing Sweet Race Skis:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXJMw4gLmGM

US Ski Team Technician:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICSyMW6YPEc&feature=channel

Wally the Wombat waxing XC skis for a Kangaroo (for real…just watch it)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIcrhbF-lf4

Ski Bum Deluxe Method—(pretty good job with quite primitive equipment)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXWRfk5ktEk&NR=1

**More Advanced Techniques:

Base Repairs:
Close Up Specialized Iron-Melt Base Repair:

Repairing Deep Core Shots With Hi-Tek Equipment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azqxTrUWSVs&feature=related

Ski Shop Guy Shows Ski/Snowboard Vises:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEaY90XGqKk&feature=related